# Underrated Actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281 "2005-04-07T19:50:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/61 "2005-04-16T13:45:03Z")
I’m going to add [Nick Stahl](http://www.hbo.com/carnivale/cast/actor/nick_stahl.shtml) to my other nomination. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/62 "2005-04-17T02:59:32Z")
Nobody’s said anything about [Clancy Brown](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000317/) yet… He was: The Kurgan in “Highlander” Capt. Hadley in “The Shawshank Redemption” (the head prison guard) Bro. Justin Crowe in “Carnivale” (very good acting on his part here) ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/63 "2005-04-17T04:27:01Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest Steve Buscemi " I told him you were the biggest Mexican I’ve ever seen." [/QUOTE] I’ll second Steve Buscemi. You know that scene in _Fargo_, when he’s in that third-rate lounge with the blonde escort listening to Joe Feliciano, and they’re trying to make conversation (he’s trying to skirt around the “OK, so when do we get to the sex bit I paid you for?”) very awkwardly? > [@](#): > > Jose Feliciano, very small, performs on a > spotlit stool. The acoustics are poor. > > Carl grimaces. > > ``` > CARL > ... What is he, deaf?... So, > uh, how long have you been with > the escort service? > > WOMAN > I don't know. Few munce. > > CARL > Ya find the work interesting, do ya? > > WOMAN > ... What're you talking about? > > ``` That is the most hilarious, perfectly-played comedic scene I’ve ever seen. I love Steve Buscemi. Among British actors, I think Robert Carlyle is underrated considering his phenomenal acting talent. Ever seen that _Cracker_ episode with him as the skinhead? Woah. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/64 "2005-04-17T04:32:19Z")
> [@Sarah Woodruff](#): > > I’ll second Steve Buscemi. You know that scene in _Fargo_, when he’s in that third-rate lounge with the blonde escort listening to Joe Feliciano, and they’re trying to make conversation (he’s trying to skirt around the “OK, so when do we get to the sex bit I paid you for?”) very awkwardly? > > That is the most hilarious, perfectly-played comedic scene I’ve ever seen. > I love Steve Buscemi. > > Among British actors, I think Robert Carlyle is underrated considering his phenomenal acting talent. Ever seen that _Cracker_ episode with him as the skinhead? Woah. or as Hamish MacBeth ---
**Author:** ![huk24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f0a364/32.png) [@huk24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huk24)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/65 "2005-04-17T04:38:45Z")
John Cazale. You probably don’t know the name, but I guarantee you know his face. He died very young and only made a handful of films, but he was amazing in all of them. Check out his rather impressive resume: > **[John Cazale - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001030/)** > > John Cazale, Actor: Dog Day Afternoon. John Cazale was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to an Irish-American mother, Cecilia (Holland), and an Italian-American father, John Cazale. Cazale only made five feature films in his career, all which many fans... ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/66 "2005-04-17T15:42:23Z")
[Alan Rickman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000614/). He’s at the top of the second strings, but he’s someone who really could have star status, if only he didn’t keep playing villains. Or those appearing to be villains. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/67 "2005-04-17T18:57:08Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > [Alan Rickman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000614/). He’s at the top of the second strings, but he’s someone who really could have star status, if only he didn’t keep playing villains. Or those appearing to be villains. The thing about AR is that he fills his roles so well that it’s easy to forget that Hans Gruber and Professor Snape are the same person. I’ll submit Gary Oldman to the list if he hasn’t already been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/68 "2005-04-17T19:00:58Z")
**Lobsang** , I’ll see your Gary Oldman and raise you a Tim Roth. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/69 "2005-04-18T01:45:13Z")
How could I forget **Vince Vaughn** one of my favorite B+ list actors. Or **Deitrich Bader** of the Drew Carey show fame & “Lawrence” of Office Space. Two chicks at once. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/70 "2005-04-18T06:35:42Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks that Sam Waterston doesn’t get enough love? I LOVE him as Jack McCoy, and in one of the _Tales from the Darkside_ movie, and as Nick in _The Great Gatsby_. IMO Sam Waterston is one of the greatest American actors working today. Once again, more of the “Actors Actor” and one of the most-robbed-on-oscar-night nominees ever. mm ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/71 "2005-04-18T06:41:55Z")
Oh, but for me the most underrated actor ever is dear old Patrick McGoohan. Fantastic actor, real presence and gravitas. Turned down the chance to be James Bond before Sean Connery was offered the role - sort of an Irish Christopher Walken. Vincent D’Onofrio is also, IMO, a great talent that people seem to take for granted because he gets a steady paycheck on the silliest “Law & Order” incarnation. He’s been terriffic in anything else I’ve ever seen him in. mm ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281/72 "2005-04-18T14:37:47Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Nobody’s said anything about [Clancy Brown](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000317/) yet… > > He was: > > The Kurgan in “Highlander” > > Capt. Hadley in “The Shawshank Redemption” (the head prison guard) > > Bro. Justin Crowe in “Carnivale” (very good acting on his part here) And scared the ever-lovin’ _piss_ outta me in “Pet Sematary II”. Yikes, that’s a scary man! and **vetbridge** , I have to second the nomination for Tom Waits. Knowing he’s in a movie is enough to get me into the theater. I’d love to see someone give him another role like Kenny in “Cold Feet”. He’s amazingly talented. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-actors/298281.md?page=3)